14 Day Health Challenge

As someone who is feeling the pinch of a bad diet I was curious to find out if this was an inspirational health move or sheer craziness

Part one of her experience here…

My No-Sugar, No-Wheat, No-Dairy, No-Alcohol, No-Life Super Challenge

By Tania McCartney

For my birthday this year, I decided to give myself a really extra special gift.

Health.

For the past 10 months, I’ve been feeling lethargic, tired, exhausted, drained. Whoozy, nauseous, crabby, ratty. Energy-less, depressed, despondent, hopeless, histronic. Head-achey, bloated, crampy, weepy and my skin has gone to the dogs. I feel old old old and fat fat fat.

And the life of a writer doesn’t help. In my job roles as blogger, freelance writer, book reviewer, author, editor and publisher, there’s one thing in common. I sit. I’m sedentary. And my thighs really are cottage cheese.

But I’m tired of making excuses. I’m just plain tired, really.

And when it comes to exercise, I’m failing. I’ve been an aerobics addict and body-builder in my time so I understand exercise and what it does to the body and how vital it is to the body. It’s just that I have so much else to do, you see – and exercise is so often relegated.

And boy oh boy, am I now paying the price.

Frankly, though, I no longer have a choice. My lifestyle past is now catching up on me and I’m paying dearly. It’s showing in my face, my skin, my hair, my nails, my body condition. But also my psyche. Put it this way – I’ve been in a really bad mood for far too long now.

When you’re really ready to make changes, the Universe provides the goods. I’ve always believed this. Since making this health decision, the past few days have been quite miraculous. Two days ago, I dug into my groaning pile of book review copies and dug out Body Blitz Diet(Orion, A$46.99).

In the book, author Anna Richardson swears you’ll melt kilos in two weeks if you give up sugar, wheat, alcohol and dairy. Oh, and no carbs after 6pm.

This idea was not only tempting because I’d like to banish my cottage cheese things, but also because I SO badly want to feel healthy again. I want to feel good. Damn it, I want to feel great! No more fatigue, no more feeling ill, no more feeling blue.

Day One

So, today, I started. After spending all day yesterday without a single gram of dairy, sugar, wheat or alcohol – I have to say – today I am feeling UNBELIEVABLE.

I feel amazing. Wonderful. Energised. Refreshed. Happy. Excited, even! I am absolutely and utterly gobsmacked. My stomach is already flatter (thighs still pudge, but let’s give that time), I have greater mental clarity and I feel incredibly invigorated. I. Am. Stunned.

If this is how I’m going to feel after ONE DAY on this thing, can you imagine how I’m going to feel in two weeks’ time?

Day Two

It’s surprised no one more than me that Day Two of this regime has been easy. I thought I’d be scraping the bottom of the fridge for shavings of chocolate by now, but no. I’ve managed to sate my sweet tooth with fruit and I’ve tried to be a little more active.

The great thing about this regime is that you CAN have carbs (though never wheat carbs) before 6pm. So I can nibble on rye bread (with a little dairy-free spread, too!) and rice crackers. I can even have rice noodles in my lunch. I can also have coffee and tea (again, I’m not going overboard) and a splash of skim milk with tea and cereal.

These teensy ‘allowances’ have already made a difference in terms of how deeply I can commit.

So, the changes I experienced at the end of Day Two:

Waking refreshed and energized with NO hangover feeling. Amazing!

Enormous improvement in mental clarity through the day.

Flatter stomach (which gradually began to bloat through the day, though not as much as usual).

Incredibly lightened, happier mood that stayed all day long.

More motivation.

More energy.

More desire to exercise.

Less depression.

Less fatigue.

Less anger and frustration.

Greater productivity.

Less desire to eat junk (markedly).

Oh – and I lost half a kilo.

I wonder what Day Three will bring?

Day Three

Day Three of my Challenge and I’m not missing my poison… sugar. Sure, I feel like something sweet at 4pm and 8pm but I’m really surprised… the less regined sugar I ingest, the less I feel like eating it. I just have a piece of fruit instead.

Here are some things that happened today:

I didn’t wake up feeling as good as Day Two and this surprised me. I did, however, have good energy today, and even had a game of basketball with the family after dinner.

My husband commented I don’t look as hagged. Umm… hurrah!

I already feel more flexible in my legs and upper back, thanks to the extra energy I’ve had to move more.

I didn’t drink nearly as much water as I should have – must step that up to help cleanse all the muck out of my system.

I still feel happier overall, but had moments of grumpiness and a little fatigue at the dieting witching hour – 3 to 4pm. Felt better after I ate dinner.

I’ve lost one kilo.

I had an excellent night’s sleep.

Day Four

Day Four of my Feel Good Regime and eating has been a breeze. In fact, SO much easier than I thought it would. The thought of eating some chocolate turns my stomach, and trust me, this sends me into more shock than you.

Didn’t sleep as well last night – slept a little lightly and woke several times.

Still woke feeling a teensy bit seedy and once again wondering if it was the fruity rice pudding I ate after dinner. It was only a teensy amount and was very healthy but it still contained sugar, nonetheless. Tonight I shall forgo any sweet ‘dessert’ and see how this changes things.

I am stunned at the huge improvement in my skin from the lack of sugar (and alcohol). The uneven pigmentation I suffer (from decades of surfing and sun exposure) has smoothed out incredibly already. My skin looks more moist and I actually look younger.

Have gained 600g but trying not to be discouraged, as this would be due to muscle production after my increased exercise levels.

Can definitely feel a reduction in fat on my lower belly and love handles.

Not feeling as ecstatic and uplifted as I did on Day One and found myself snapping a little but this could be due to the bad night’s sleep. Still maintaining an improved mood overall.

Day Five

Have been feeling a little discouraged by negative or tetchy comments about this regime. Oftentimes they’re just small things, but they’re sharply pointed. Thrilled, though, that the majority comments are supportive – which is why I’m doing this, really. Support. Supporting and encouraging others to feel good again.

So, Day Five… Woke feeling really tired but that lovely sleepy tired, not that exhausted deathly tired. Ella woke me right in the middle of deep REM sleep (I was having a dream I took off a massive winter coat – how metaphorically apt) so that may explain my grogginess.

I’ve woken with a sour white coating on the back of my tongue. Am presuming this is my body in detox.

Feeling of seediness much much less today. Only ate one nectarine last night instead of ‘dessert’.

Have broken out a little on my face, which is unusual. Again, detoxying a little?

Feel extra clear mentally today. Things don’t feel like they’re getting on top of me and small things aren’t such a big deal.

Taking extra time out for me. For the first time in far too long, I’m not beating myself up about this.

In the morning, when I slip on my wedding and engagement rings, I don’t have to lick my finger to get them on.

I could do up my jeans today, without strain and no subsequent muffining in waistal area.

Ate three squares of sugar-free antioxidant chocolate with Goji berries (at 8pm) and it was divine. Once I’d slowly nibbled them, I resisted more and had a plum instead.

Am back to my ‘one kilo lost’.

I know this is bizarre… but I’m feeling more confident. I bought myself a nice tank top today. Wow.

Heading fast towards one week down…

Day Six

Day Six and I cannot even begin to express to you how glorious it feels to wake up NOT grumpy! Still the occasional snappiness, though.

My sense of humour is returning. Heavens to Murgatroyd!

The white coating at the back of my tongue has vastly improved. Morning breath still a little acidic.

Didn’t feel seedy this morning. Nor headachey. Joy!

Felt bright-eyed upon waking and much more willing to exercise than yesterday.

My body fat seems to be ‘unclogging’. The parts where I’m pudgy seem to be breaking down.

I haven’t lost any more weight but I’m toning up noticeably.

Afternoon didn’t go so well – had a major sweet craving after lunch. Had to sate it with five squares of my antioxidant sugar-free chocolate and 900 rice crackers. They say to drink more fluid when you crave things, and so a cup of tea and lots of water were next.

As afternoon progressed, irritation came back. Probably due to the negative or tetchy reactions from some people regarding this challenge I’m on. Am taking great pains to share this journey in the hope of inspiring others, so it’s discouraging and oftentimes mindboggling.

Do people sabotage our health efforts, or do we sabotage others, more than we realise?

Here’s to feeling positive, inspired and wonderful. I’m slowly getting there.

Day Seven

One week down!

Had a terrible night’s sleep. Hoping it’s all those vitamins and minerals going crazy and making me healthy.
Honestly feel so much tighter in my muscles; it’s bizarre, as it’s only been 7 days of a little more exercise and better eating. The shape and tone of my muscles has really improved rapidly. Amazing.

Probably the greatest physical benefit I’m enjoying is the improvement in my skin. It makes sense – skin being the largest organ in the body – that improvements would be seen here first. The improvements already are more elasticity, less dryness and much greater clarity and refinement.

The coating on my tongue is gone.

I’m loving the feeling I get when I exercise, rather than bemoaning it. It’s true – the more you do, the more you want to do and the better it feels.

My weight has stayed exactly the same the past few days. To the gram. Sure, I’d like to see it drop, but the real test is in the fit of my clothing, and things are definitely looser.

My stomach is not only flatter, the muscles are tighter and I’m just feeling a little sexier overall.

The fitter I get, the happier I get, and the more I want to take care of myself. I’ve booked in for my first salon colour in around 6 years.

Week two begins….

Conclusion here

So what do you think? An inspiration? Or crazy?